Oil and wax mixture

So, I made a cutting board and used Howard’s Butcher Block Conditioner, bought at home depot. I really liked that finish, and it smelled good.

This prompted me to wonder if I could use something similar on non food related items (furniture, boxes).

The thing is, I love using the Watco natural danish oil, but I do not like to use it on really light woods because of how they often take on a yellow tint. The butcher block thing, which is a mixture of mineral oil and beeswax, on the other hand seemed to just give a nice warm, light brown glow to my hickory. I also normally enjoy the look and feel of wax on top of the oil.

I’d like to see if I can figure out my own mixture that would have a similar result on other items. Perhaps a mix of BLO and wax? Does BLO have the same yellowing attribute as the tung oil used in the Watco finish? Any other oil and wax mixture that would work well?

Thanks!

-- David - Tucson, AZ

5 replies so far

I’ve used howard’s conditioner on several boxes. I like it because it’s a quick no fuss finish, but it soaks into the wood and needs several coats over the course of a week or so. No durability to speak of also. I saw a wax/shellac paste recently but I can’t recall the name. Also, my friends makes a wax called Swilley’s Natural Wood Rub, basic paste wax but it smells really good.

David, BLO is very yellowing and (to me) looks too yellow when you first apply it to light colored wood but what I like about BLO is that it promotes darkening (oxidation) and will turn into a nice golden color; or on darker woods just a nice patina. I haven’t yet mixed it with wax but it’s been on my to-do list.

Loren, I like the darkening or ambering, but what I do not like is a blonde wood that goes yellow with oil. I was looking to replicate the result of the butcher block finish on hickory but with something more durable than mineral oil (and that cures).

You could try OB’s shine juice, which is a mix of equal parts clear shellac, BLO and DNA. You’d get the wax from the shellac with the BLO. I use it mostly for turning, but no reason you couldn’t use it on other things. I think it’s similar to french polish.